| Show interstate COMMERCE LAW washington D C jan 20 the weight of evidence is with the shippers in the question asto whether the interstate ter state commerce law should be so amended as to make binding and effective the findings of the commission president roosevelt said in his recent message to congress the act should be amended the railway is a public servant its rates should be just and open to all shippers alike the government should seo to it that within its jurisdiction this is so and should provide a speedy inexpensive and tive remedy to that end the president concluded with these words the subject is one of great importance and calls for the earnest attention of the congress this is the contribution of the president of the united states to the current discussion as to whether tho interstate commerce act should be amended the interstate commerce commission was created in the vital principles of the organic act were that freight rates should be just and reasonable and that all shippers and sections should be accorded fair andy uniform treatment the spirit and letter of the law have been continually violated the hearings of the commission just held at kansas city and chicago produced the most recent development to which the attention of the public has been directed it must be apparent to the commonest understanding that staple conditions in the channels of commerce cannot prevail while encountering the uncertainty taftt 0 0 t 4 now exists in all lines of transportation tho commission in its reports to congress has repeatedly directed attention to the necessity or amendment of alie law the commission has so often ex satiated patia ted on the evils practiced by the carriers and the impotence of tho law that it its impatience in the report of 1000 with the failure of congress to act the report says with reference to further legislation the commission lias little to suggest and nothing new to apropo sc the subject has been fully discussed in previous reports to congress and recommendations both general and specific have been repeatedly made the reasons for urging these amendments have been carefully explained pla ined and repetition of alie argument at this time can hardly be expected whilo the attitude of the commission has been misunderstood by tomo and misrepresented by other alie views heretofore officially expressed are believed 0 be justified alike by experience and knowledge of present conditions and tendencies increases rather than lessens the necessity for legislative action upon the lines already indicated the national association of Pail railway way commissioners at its annual convention held in san francisco in june of last year adopted resolutions urging con 1 gross to enact appropriate and essential legislation to forbid the or re of unreasonable or greater corni sensation pensa tion tor the transportation of paa or property over a shorter than a longer liall to provide for the proper and more satisfactory posting and publication li of tariffs showing the rates farag terminal charges and joint rates charged for interstate transportation as well within our borders as beyond them and to more fully and specifically declare against unjust discrimination rebates and other devices that would avoid the published rates and schedules and to penalize such offenses to clothe the interstate commerce commission with power and authority to fix maximum and differential when ly judgments need to be so perfected the industrial commission some time ago completed an exhaustive inquiry into the question of transportation the testimony adduced was voluminous railway officials of the various commercial organizations and business men appeared to submit testimony on this important subject in a summary of evidence on transportation made public late in the summer the commission said the general thought of shippers and disinterested witnesses is that while the commission interstate commerce should not be permitted to prescribe all rates in the first instance because of the complexity of the problem involved it should have the power to revise rates cither directly when tariffs are submitted by the railroads or on complaint and to put its decisions into immediate effect pending an appeal to the courts the long delays resulting from the present system of appeals to the courts are held to work great hardship and injustice to shippers who are compelled to continue for months or years paying the rates against which complaint is made these witnesses believe that the burden of appeal should oca 4 rest upon the railroads rather than upon shippers it has been stated by the carriers that in advancing the shippers never knew exactly what they wanted lucli assertion is as unfair as it is absurd they arc proposing to the law just alike both to carrier and if theae amendments arc adopted the interstate commerce commission will be vested not with a rate making power but with authority to correct rates when they arc demonstrated after full hearing f all parties at interest to be unfair and discriminating both patties will havo the right of appeal to the courts the voice of the president of the united states a number of state legislatures la tures such as michigan wisconsin and kansas the interstate commerce commission the national association of ll ailway commissioners has been raised in behalf of legislation in this tion in addition to this such important organizations as the national board of trade the league of national associations the grain dealers national association the millers national association the national hay association and ninety other permanent organizations are demanding action to supplement this a demand must come from 1 the people who are directly affected by the practices of tho carriers that the public is becoming awake to the injury j to their interests of present conditions in the avenues of transportation is manifested in the expressions in tho freaa and in the petitions and letters being received by the national lawmakers law makers |
